News Release
For Immediate Release: 4.9.26
Contact: Peyton Drew, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4454
New Orleans Prevents Local from Sharing Faith in Public Park
City of New Orleans tells local resident that he cannot hold religious signor hand out Gospel literature to pedestrians in public park.
New Orleans, LA–First Liberty Institute sent a demand letter on behalf of Brant Zeller after the City of New Orleans prevented him from distributing Gospel literature or holding a sign that reads, “Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life” in a city park.
You can read the demand letter here.
“Speech on religious topics receives full constitutional protection, and for good reason,” stated First Liberty’s Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “The ability to share one’s religious beliefs in a public place is precisely what the First Amendment is designed to protect. It is our first liberty. This protection does not go away just because someone might take offense to the religious ideas.”
On January 16, 2026, Zeller, along with a friend, visited Woldenberg Park in New Orleans to share their Christian faith with pedestrians walking through the park and along the Riverwalk. The park was open to the general public. Zeller and his friend used signs, expressive clothing, literature, and conversation to communicate their religious messages. Zeller held a sign reading “Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and wore a shirt stating: “Trust Jesus.” Zeller and his friend only sought to evangelize in a respectful manner. Zeller and his friend were stopped by New Orleans Police after a park employee complained of their presence. The officers told Zeller that a city ordinance and park rule prohibits solicitation in the park, which includes the distribution of religious literature. The officers then warned them that they could be “visibly removed or arrested” if they failed to immediately leave on their own.
As stated in the demand letter: “Banishing Zeller from the desired public forum where he can reach an audience to a space where he is unable to do so is not a narrowly tailored measure. If the City had a true concern, its interests could be addressed through narrowly focused rules rather than a categorical ban on leafletting and evangelism… [T]he City’s rule exiling Zeller’s speech from a traditional public forum violated his First Amendment speech rights, and persists in doing so.”
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Peyton Drew at media@firstliberty.org.
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